Method for variably flexing and steering an insertion device

ABSTRACT

A method for variably flexing and steering an insertion device that receives an instrument, which comprises providing a hollow body having tendons disposed therewithin and a distal end, changing a condition of the hollow body by selectively applying suction to create a vacuum in the hollow body to place the hollow body in a relatively stiff condition and relieving the vacuum to place the hollow body in a relatively flexible condition, maintaining the hollow body in the relatively flexible and relatively stiff conditions with the tendons, the vacuum created by the applied suction frictionally locking the tendons in place in the relatively stiff condition, and individually adjusting at least one of the tendons in length to steer the distal end of the hollow body.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is:

-   -   a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/006,760,         filed on Jan. 14, 2011;     -   a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/006,745,         filed on Jan. 14, 2011;     -   a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/432,351,         filed on Apr. 29, 2009, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,914,445; and     -   a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/502,322,         filed on Aug. 10, 2006, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,988,621,         the entire disclosures of which are hereby incorporated herein         by reference in their entireties.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a variably-flexible insertion device. The invention also relates to a method for variably flexing and steering an insertion device.

2. Description of the Related Art

Prior art insertion devices of this general type have been quite complicated, cumbersome and difficult to use. Such devices have a relatively large diameter, a limited maximum length, a limited transmission of torque and present obstacles to insertion of instruments.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a variably-flexible insertion device and a method for variably flexing and steering an insertion device, which overcome the hereinafore-mentioned disadvantages of the heretofore-known devices and methods of this general type and which are simpler to construct, have a smaller diameter, a greater torque transmission, may be made longer and allow smooth insertion of an instrument.

With the foregoing and other objects in view there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a method for variably flexing and steering an insertion device that receives an instrument, which comprises providing a hollow body having tendons disposed therewithin and a distal end, changing a condition of the hollow body by selectively applying suction to create a vacuum in the hollow body to place the hollow body in a relatively stiff condition and relieving the vacuum to place the hollow body in a relatively flexible condition, maintaining the hollow body in the relatively flexible and relatively stiff conditions with the tendons, the vacuum created by the applied suction frictionally locking the tendons in place in the relatively stiff condition, and individually adjusting at least one of the tendons in length to steer the distal end of the hollow body.

In accordance with another feature of the invention, the method further comprises providing a handle at a proximal end of the hollow body, the tendons being free to move longitudinally within the handle.

In accordance with a further feature of the invention, the tendons float in the handle when the hollow body is in the relatively flexible condition.

In accordance with an added feature of the invention, the method further comprises carrying out the step of individually adjusting at least one of the tendons with at least one knob, the at least one knob being connected to the at least one adjustable tendon and sliding in a slot formed in a handle of a proximal end of the hollow body.

In accordance with an additional feature of the invention, the method further comprises providing the hollow body with an outer jacket and an inner sleeve, providing the tendons at least partly between the outer jacket and the inner sleeve, and carrying out the step of applying suction by applying suction between the outer jacket and the inner sleeve with a transitioning device.

In accordance with yet another feature of the invention, the method further comprises providing a vacuum connection as the transitioning device and actuating the vacuum connection with a valve at a handle of the hollow body.

In accordance with yet another feature of the invention, the hollow body has an outer jacket, an inner sleeve, a proximal end, and a handle at the proximal end having an outer handle and an inner handle defining a vacuum plenum volume therebetween communicating between the outer jacket and the inner sleeve.

In accordance with yet another feature of the invention, the method further comprises providing a vacuum port in communication with the vacuum plenum volume and carrying out the step of applying suction between the outer jacket and the inner sleeve with the vacuum port.

In accordance with yet a further feature of the invention, the method further comprises guiding the tendons with at least one vertebra disposed within the hollow body.

In accordance with another mode of the invention, the method further comprises permitting movement of at least one of the tendons through at least one channel formed in the at least one vertebra.

In accordance with a further mode of the invention, the method further comprises providing a termination bushing at the distal end of the hollow body to which at least some of the tendons are attached.

In accordance with an added mode of the invention, the method further comprises attaching the at least one adjustable tendon to a termination bushing at the distal end of the hollow body, attaching others of the tendons to the at least one vertebra, and steering the distal end with the at least one adjustable tendon.

In accordance with yet another mode of the invention, the tendons slide in the relatively flexible and relatively stiff conditions.

In accordance with yet an added mode of the invention, the method further comprises varying a number of the tendons disposed within the hollow body to provide zones of varying stiffness of the hollow body.

In accordance with yet an additional mode of the invention, the method further comprises providing a greater number of tendons toward the distal end than toward a proximal end of the hollow body to increase a stiffness of the distal end.

In accordance with again another mode of the invention, the tendons are neither in tension nor compression when the hollow body is in the relatively stiff condition.

In accordance with again a further mode of the invention, the tendons are not under tension in both the relatively flexible and relatively stiff conditions.

Other features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims.

Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in a variably-flexible insertion device and a method for variably flexing and steering an insertion device, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims.

The construction and method of operation of the invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic, side-elevational view of a torque-transmitting, variably-flexible, corrugated insertion device according to the invention, in which an outer jacket has been partly removed to show corrugations, tendons and vertebrae and in which the device has been steered to the right;

FIG. 2 is a side-elevational view of the insertion device in which corrugations are illustrated at the distal tip as in FIG. 1 and in which an outer covering of a handle has been removed;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing stiffener zones of the insertion device and illustrating corrugations at the distal tip;

FIGS. 4 and 5 are fragmentary, side-elevational views of a steering assembly of the insertion device with corrugations illustrated in different locations;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary, longitudinal-sectional view of a distal tip region of the insertion device;

FIG. 7 is a view of the insertion device similar to FIG. 6, in which tendons have been shown;

FIG. 8 is an elevational view of a corrugated tube of the insertion device in which straight and stepped cuffs have been shown;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary, longitudinal-sectional view of the insertion device in which an inner liner, an inner handle and a corrugation cuff have been shown;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary, perspective view of the distal tip region of the insertion device;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary, perspective view of the distal tip region of the insertion device in which the outer jacket has been removed to show the tendons, the vertebrae and the corrugations;

FIG. 12 is a view of the insertion device similar to FIG. 11, in which the tip has been removed;

FIG. 12A is an enlarged, perspective view of a U-shaped tendon;

FIG. 13 is a view of the insertion device similar to FIGS. 11 and 12, in which the tip and a termination bushing have been removed;

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of the insertion device, which is taken along a line IVX-IVX of FIG. 11, in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 15 is a further enlarged, perspective view of a snap vertebra of the insertion device; and

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a continuous vertebra of the insertion device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the figures of the drawings in detail and first, particularly, to FIG. 1 thereof, there is seen a torque-transmitting, variably-flexible, corrugated insertion device 1 according to the invention. The insertion device 1 has a hollow body with a proximal end 2 for manipulation by an operator and for receiving an instrument such as an endoscope or a colonoscopy. The insertion device 1 also has a distal end 3 for insertion into a patient and for protrusion of the instrument. A handle 4 of the hollow body for control by the operator is disposed at the proximal end 2. An outer jacket 5 of the hollow body extends to a tip 7, which may be formed of rubber, at the distal end 3, but only a portion of the outer jacket has been shown in order to illustrate other details of the device disposed within the outer jacket 5. A flexible strain relief retainer 6 is disposed between the handle 4 and the outer jacket 5. The outer jacket 5 and the flexible strain relief retainer 6 provide a flexible section with a given length extending beyond the handle 4. The handle 4 has a sliding valve 28 and a septum valve assembly 29, which will be explained in greater detail below with regard to FIG. 2. The handle 4 also has a vacuum connection or nipple 35 for controlling stiffness of the device, as will be explained below as well. A corrugated tube 30, which is only illustrated in the region of the distal tip 7, actually extends to the flexible strain relief retainer 6.

The insertion device 1 may be steerable or non-steerable. If the device is steerable, a steering assembly 10 is provided which includes six vertebrae 13-18 shown as being disposed along the hollow body. However, more or fewer vertebrae can be provided in dependence on the length, diameter and use of the hollow body. Eight tendons 11, 11′ are equally spaced apart about the circumference of the hollow body between the vertebra 17 and the handle 4, although only five can be seen in FIG. 1. Four of the tendons which extend from a tendon termination bushing 31 at the tip 7 to the handle 4 are so-called steering tendons 11′. Other tendons which only extend between the vertebra 17 and the handle 4 are so-called non-steering tendons 11.

Each of the four steering tendons 11′ is attached at its proximal end to a respective knob 36 which slides within a respective slot 38 in the handle 4. A stop 39 is also disposed on each tendon 11′. When a knob 36 is slid proximally, it pushes a stop 39 and pulls a tendon 11′ to steer the hollow body. In the condition shown in FIG. 1, the knob 36 at the bottom has been slid proximally so that the tip 7 of the hollow body has been steered downward. If different knobs 36 are moved, the hollow body will be steered in different directions. When the knobs 36 are forced distally, the knobs can freely slide independently of the tendons 11′ to prevent buckling of the tendons 11′. It will be readily understood that if two of the knobs are slid proximally, the tip 7 will move in a direction between the two directions that each one of the knobs would have moved the tip if moved individually.

In FIG. 2, an outer covering of the handle 4 has been removed to show details of the sliding valve 28 and the septum valve assembly 29. The handle 4 has an inner handle 19 disposed within an outer handle 18, defining an annular vacuum plenum volume 24 therebetween which extends in longitudinal direction of the handle 4. A vacuum inlet/outlet hole or port 25 is formed in the body of the outer handle 18 and communicates with the volume 24. A sliding so-called tire valve thumb grip 20 encircles the outer handle 18 and is sealed thereto by O-ring seals having O-rings 21 in recesses 22 in the grip 20. An O-ring seal is also disposed at the proximal end of the handle 4. The grip 20 also has a vacuum inlet/outlet 23 for the connection or nipple 35. When the grip 20 is slid toward an annular stop 26, the vacuum inlet/outlet 23 is not in alignment with the vacuum inlet/outlet hole 25. However, when the grip 20 is slid toward an annular stop 27, the vacuum inlet/outlet 23 and the vacuum inlet/outlet hole 25 are aligned, providing communication between the connection or nipple 35 and the volume 24. Therefore, during operation, the grip 20 is slid toward the stop 27 to apply vacuum to stiffen the hollow body or to vent the vacuum to the atmosphere or supply air at atmospheric pressure to make the hollow body flexible again. The grip 20 is slid toward the stop 26 to maintain the stiffened or flexible condition of the hollow body attained by vacuum or venting or air supply through the connection or nipple 35. The septum valve assembly 29 is in the form of an end cap which is inserted into the proximal end of the outer handle 18 and provides a so-called septum seal for insertion of an instrument 44, such as an endoscopy or a colonoscopy, represented by a dot-dash line. End caps with various sized openings may be used in dependence on the instrument being used. The instrument passes through the hollow body and emerges at the distal tip 7. A diaphragm seal is provided between the septum valve assembly 29 and the inner handle 19.

If the insertion device 1 is non-steerable, the number of tendons 11 may also be varied as shown in FIG. 3 to provide stiffness zones. For example, a stiffness zone A closest to the distal tip 7 has four tendons, a stiffness zone B has eight tendons and a stiffness zone C closest to the handle 4 has sixteen tendons. A zone with more tendons will be stiffer than a zone with fewer tendons. The number of tendons and their location within the zones as well as the number of zones can be increased or decreased, depending on the application of the device. Vertebrae 12-18, which in this case are seven in number, are also shown. The four tendons in the zone A all end at the termination bushing 31 but are free to slide elsewhere. Four of the eight tendons in zone B, which do not extend to zone A, are fixed at the vertebra 14 between zones A and B, which is therefore referred to as a termination vertebra, but are free to slide elsewhere. Similarly, eight of the sixteen tendons in zone C, which do not extend into zones A and B, are fixed at the termination vertebra 16 between zones B and C but are free to slide elsewhere.

FIG. 4 shows the device 1 with the handle 4 removed, from which it can be seen that the four steering tendons 11′ of the steering assembly 10 continue toward the handle from the tip 7, whereas the non-steering tendons 11 only run from the termination vertebra 15 to the handle. It is also seen that as the insertion device is steered, the steering tendons 11′ on the outside of the bend become shorter and the steering tendons 11′ on the inside of the bend become longer. FIG. 5 shows a similar view to FIG. 4, in which it can be seen how a greater number of vertebrae react to bending. In the case of FIG. 5, eight steering tendons 11′ extend to the termination bushing 31, whereas six non-steering tendons 11 extend from the termination vertebra 18 to the handle.

In the enlarged view of FIG. 6, a portion of the corrugated tube 30 in the region of the tip 7 and the termination bushing 31 are shown. The tendons 11, 11′, which have been omitted in FIG. 6 for the sake of clarity, are shown in FIG. 7 as extending through the vertebrae 13, 14 to the termination bushing 31. A tip restrictor 32 can also be seen at the tip 7. It may also be seen that an inner liner 33 extends within the corrugated tube 30. One purpose of the inner liner is to provide a surface on which the instrument will pass smoothly within the corrugated tube. The corrugated tube 30 may be formed of nylon or another suitable material. The inner liner 33 is made from a sheet of white plastic material which has an adhesive coating on one side. The inner liner 33 is rolled around an inflatable mandrel and heated in an oven, to form a bonded seam 42 (shown in FIGS. 11-13) and is sealed to an inner surface of the corrugated tube 30. The corrugations of the corrugated tube 30 have peaks and valleys. As viewed from within the corrugated tube 30, the inner liner 33 adheres to the peaks and extends somewhat into the valleys of the corrugations as dimples. Therefore, as the insertion device bends, the inner liner 33 stays tight along the corrugations on the outside of the bend and crinkles at the inside of the bend. The peaks and valleys of the corrugations also need not be of equal length along the length of the corrugated tube 30. For example, 70% of the length may be peaks and 30% valleys or 80% of the length may be peaks and 20% valleys. These variations will add to the adhesion of the inner liner to the corrugated tube and reduce the formation of dimples. However, a 50/50 corrugation ratio is shown in the figures. The outer jacket 5 may be formed of polyurethane or another suitable material which is similarly a flat sheet that is rolled and seamed. The outer jacket 5 and the inner liner 33 both extend to the termination bushing 31, which may be formed of polycarbonate.

The corrugated tube is cuffed in order to prevent leakage paths for the vacuum applied within the hollow body and to protect the material of the inner liner. FIG. 8 illustrates two types of molded corrugation cuffs 34, namely a straight cuff on the left and a stepped cuff on the right, of the figure, both with a 50/50 corrugation ratio. FIG. 9 shows the inner handle 19 which is attached to a corrugation cuff 34, as well as the inner liner 33 that is sealed to the corrugated tube 30 and to the inner handle 19 to prevent a vacuum leakage path.

The perspective view of FIG. 10 illustrates the insertion device 1 in the region of the tip 7, including the outer jacket 5 extending to the tip, which is not shown in the other figures.

The fragmentary, perspective view of FIG. 11 illustrates the insertion device 1 in the region of the tip 7, with the outer jacket removed to reveal the termination bushing 31 at the tip 7, the corrugated tube 30, the vertebrae 13, 14, the tendons 11 or 11′ and the inner liner 33. It is seen that the tendons slide through channels 37 in the vertebrae.

In FIG. 12, not only the outer jacket 5 but also the tip 7 have been removed to show how the tendons 11, 11′ are anchored in the termination bushing 31. As can been seen, each tendon 11, 11′ passes through a respective hole 40 in the termination bushing 31. Each two tendons together have a U-shape in the form of a large staple having a crosspiece 41 extending between two of the holes 40. This avoids the necessity of welding ends of tendons to a terminating vertebra or ring. The U-shaped tendons and crosspiece are best seen in FIG. 12A.

In FIG. 13, not only the outer jacket 5 and the tip 7 but also the termination bushing 31 have been removed to show a portion of the inner liner 33 which is sealed on the inner surface of the termination bushing 31 for vacuum sealing and smooth movement of the instrument or scope 44. The crosspieces 41 of the tendons 11, 11′ as well as the seam 42 of the inner liner are also clearly shown.

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of the insertion device 1 which is taken through the flexible tip restrictor 32, as seen in the direction of the vertebra 13. Therefore, the outer jacket 5, the vertebra 13 with the tendons 11. 11′, the corrugated tube 30 with the peaks and valleys and the tip restrictor 32, can be seen.

Representative vertebrae 12-18 are shown in FIGS. 15 and 16. The vertebra of FIG. 15 is a so-called latch ring constructed for snap installation. The vertebra is formed of elastic material which permits it to be expanded at a parting line and opened at a gap 43, so that it can be snapped over the corrugated tube 30 between two peaks thereof. Therefore, the vertebra can be installed at any location desired along the corrugated tube for support of the tendons. The vertebra shown in FIG. 16 is intended to be placed at an end of the corrugated tube 30, where no expansion and snapping into place are required.

The operation of the variably flexible insertion device 1 will now be described below by making reference to the above-described figures. If the steerable embodiment is used, the device 1 is flexed against the stiffness of the corrugated tube 30, for example upon traversing the rectosigmoid junction, by sliding one or more of the knobs 6. In either the steerable or non-steerable embodiment, if it is desired to maintain that flexed condition for guiding an endoscope, such as a colonoscopy, vacuum is applied at the connection or nipple 35. When suction is applied to create the vacuum, it causes the inner sleeve 33 and the outer jacket 5 to approach each other with the corrugated tube 30 and the tendons 11, 11′ sandwiched and frictionally locked therebetween. Therefore, the vacuum connection or nipple 35 acts as a device for transitioning the hollow body 4, 7, 19, 5, 33, 30 between a relatively flexible condition and a relatively stiff condition through the application of a vacuum. As long as the vacuum is applied, the device 1 maintains its flexed condition. The positions of the knobs 6 in FIGS. 1, 2, 4 and 5 show that in the flexed condition, the tendons 11′ at the outer periphery of the bend become shorter and the tendons 11′ at the inner periphery of the bend become longer, since they are all fixed in place at the termination bushing 31.

The tendons or wires are passive elements which are not in tension at any time. The tendons float within the hollow body when it is in the flexible condition, except where they are fixed to termination vertebrae or the termination bushing 31 at the distal end. The tendons are frictionally locked by the inner sleeve 33 and the outer jacket 5 when the hollow body is in the stiff condition. However, in both the relatively flexible condition and the relatively stiff condition, the tendons have no active control imposed on them and are not pulled or constrained.

When it is desired to resume flexibility of the device 1, the vacuum is vented or replaced by air at ambient or positive pressure. This causes the inner sleeve 33 and the outer jacket 5 to release the tendons and allows the stiffness of the corrugated tube 30 to place the device 1 into its normally flexible condition.

The device is intended to be used in a manner similar to prior art devices. Therefore, the device will be placed over the endoscope. The endoscope will then be inserted into the rectum. The device will then be pushed in its flexible condition, to follow the curvature of the scope. The device will then be stiffened, allowing the scope to be pushed forward with less pressure exerted on the colon of the patient. This procedure can be repeated until the scope reaches the cecum.

An alternative use of the device is to aid in small bowel endoscopy. The device is placed over the endoscope. The endoscope is inserted into the patient transorally, through the stomach and then partially into the small bowel. The device is then pushed in its flexible condition, to follow the curvature of the scope. The device is then stiffened, allowing the scope to be pushed forward without the scope looping in the stomach.

Another use of the device is for aiding in access to internal body parts, such as the gallbladder, through an opening of an internal body cavity, such as the stomach. The device is placed over the endoscope. The endoscope is inserted into the patient transorally, through the stomach and then up against the internal surface of the stomach. The device is then pushed in its flexible condition, to follow the curvature of the scope. The device is then stiffened, allowing the surgeon to create an opening in the stomach wall without the scope looping in the stomach. Once the opening is created, the device and the scope can be advanced outside the stomach. The device can then be stiffened to create a stable platform to perform surgical procedures outside of the stomach. The device could contain one or more features (i.e. balloons) for sealing the outer periphery of the device to the stomach wall to prevent gastric fluids from exiting the stomach.

In each of these procedures described above, the knobs and tendons are used to steer the insertion device within the body as needed, while the corrugated tube allows the device to be twisted as needed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for variably flexing and steering an insertion device that receives an instrument, which comprises: providing a hollow body having: tendons disposed therewithin; and a distal end; changing a condition of the hollow body by selectively: applying suction to create a vacuum in the hollow body to place the hollow body in a relatively stiff condition; and relieving the vacuum to place the hollow body in a relatively flexible condition; maintaining the hollow body in the relatively flexible and relatively stiff conditions with the tendons, the vacuum created by the applied suction frictionally locking the tendons in place in the relatively stiff condition; and individually adjusting at least one of the tendons in length to steer the distal end of the hollow body.
 2. The method according to claim 1, which further comprises providing a handle at a proximal end of the hollow body, the tendons being free to move longitudinally within the handle.
 3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the tendons float in the handle when the hollow body is in the relatively flexible condition.
 4. The method according to claim 1, which further comprises carrying out the step of individually adjusting at least one of the tendons with at least one knob, the at least one knob being connected to the at least one adjustable tendon and sliding in a slot formed in a handle of a proximal end of the hollow body.
 5. The method according to claim 1, which further comprises: providing the hollow body with an outer jacket and an inner sleeve; providing the tendons at least partly between the outer jacket and the inner sleeve; and carrying out the step of applying suction by applying suction between the outer jacket and the inner sleeve with a transitioning device.
 6. The method according to claim 5, which further comprises: providing a vacuum connection as the transitioning device; and actuating the vacuum connection with a valve at a handle of the hollow body.
 7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the hollow body has: an outer jacket; an inner sleeve; a proximal end; and a handle at the proximal end having an outer handle and an inner handle defining a vacuum plenum volume therebetween communicating between the outer jacket and the inner sleeve.
 8. The method according to claim 7, which further comprises: providing a vacuum port in communication with the vacuum plenum volume; and carrying out the step of applying suction between the outer jacket and the inner sleeve with the vacuum port.
 9. The method according to claim 1, which further comprises guiding the tendons with at least one vertebra disposed within the hollow body.
 10. The method according to claim 9, which further comprises permitting movement of at least one of the tendons through at least one channel formed in the at least one vertebra.
 11. The method according to claim 9, which further comprises providing a termination bushing at the distal end of the hollow body to which at least some of the tendons are attached.
 12. The method according to claim 9, which further comprises: attaching the at least one adjustable tendon to a termination bushing at the distal end of the hollow body; attaching others of the tendons to the at least one vertebra; and steering the distal end with the at least one adjustable tendon.
 13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the tendons slide in the relatively flexible and relatively stiff conditions.
 14. The method according to claim 1, which further comprises varying a number of the tendons disposed within the hollow body to provide zones of varying stiffness of the hollow body.
 15. The method according to claim 14, which further comprises providing a greater number of tendons toward the distal end than toward a proximal end of the hollow body to increase a stiffness of the distal end.
 16. The method according to claim 1, wherein the tendons are neither in tension nor compression when the hollow body is in the relatively stiff condition.
 17. The method according to claim 1, wherein the tendons are not under tension in both the relatively flexible and relatively stiff conditions. 